Inclusion Made Easy In Eye Health Program: Disability inclusive practices for strengthening comprehensive eye care

This Inclusion Made Easy in Eye Health Programs guide provides important, practical information on how to include all people with disability, including those with vision impairment, in eye health programs. It offers an overview of disability from a rights-based perspective along with current concepts and evidence of disability inclusion within the international development context. People with disability represent the largest minority group worldwide; therefore, the prevalence and impact of disability within developing countries is identified in this guide, along with the cycle that exists between poverty and disability. Inclusive practices, practical approaches and examples related to embedding disability inclusion in eye health programs are also illustrated throughout this resource.

This guide has been produced to support and build upon the existing high quality disability inclusion efforts of eye health practitioners in developing countries worldwide. Its purpose is to encourage access, best quality outcomes and improved quality of life for anyone in need of eye care services, no matter what their medical prognosis may be or what other impairments they may have. In addition, principles throughout this guide are transferable and will be of relevance to other health sector programs.

This guide is divided into seven sections. Embedded across the guide is a focus on principles and processes for disability inclusion in eye health programs. The guide is not meant to be read in its entirety as individual sections may be more relevant than others. Importantly, each section is designed as a self-contained chapter with key messages, an overview of relevant inclusive approaches, sector examples, a checklist and useful resources. For this reason, some messages are repeated as they relate to different aspects of eye health programs. Readers may also find particular content (such as case studies and checklists) of greatest relevance to their own role in ensuring eye health programs are disability inclusive. As the guide offers a general overview of disability inclusion, eye health program and other health sector staff are encouraged to adapt relevant information to target the work within their context.